Summary:In the aftermath of the earthquake in northwest Syria, humanitarian crises from water scarcity to displacement will only be exacerbated by climate change and political challenges. Regional and international negotiations need new frameworks to manage the disaster. Key Themes A decade of violent conflict has created widespread vulnerabilities throughout Syria, …

At the Konstantinovsky Palace in St. Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir Putin held his first meeting with Dilma Rousseff, President of the New Development Bank (NDB), established by the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) in 2015. Rousseff, the first woman to lead the bank, was appointed to head it …

China and Russia share a long, multifaceted, and complex relationship dating back to the 17th century when China’s Ming dynasty annexed present-day regions of Far-East Russia (1858-60). The two countries have been both allies and enemies over the years, but in recent decades they have grown closer, forming a strategic …